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COLONIZATION SOCTT'Ty 



An act to Incorporate thp Maryh?} / 5".".//^ Cnh-^mza 
Hon Society. 

Section I. Be it enacted by the G'Oeral *o.^9eyibtij of 
Maryland^ That George Hoftman, Thomuo EIHcot^ Nichola-i 
Brice, Alexander Nesbit, Thomas E. Bojul, INathanie'l Wil- 
liams, John Hoffman, James Howard, Moses Sheppard. Pf;ter 
Hoffman, William McDonald, Luke Tievnan, Sumuel ".iker. 
Peter Neff, Solomon Etting, John J. Harrod, John Gibson, 
Charles Harper, and John H. B. Latrobei, and Charles How- 
ard, together with such other persons as may, at this time 
be members of the association called the J^Ti-^^l-nd State 
Colonization Society, and who may hereafter ' le metn- 

bers thereof, according to the mode that m;, • escribed 

in the by-laws of said society, and their sr 
they are hereby created and declared t^ 
and body politic, by the name, style, an^. .. 
ryland State Colonization Society," and by that nainu ^... 
have perpetual succession, and shall be liable to sue and be 
sued in any court of law or equity in this State, and may 
have and use a common seal, and the same may alter and re- 
new at pleasure, and shall have power tn t---. J,ai?c, ]i "^'e and 
enjoy, to them and their successors. .; lee or otherwise, any 
1 



lands, tenements, and hereditaments, by gift, grant, bargain 
and sale, devise, or other act of any person or persons, body 
politic, or corporate, whatsoever; to take and receive any 
sum or Slims of money, goods, or chattels, that shall be 
given, sold, and bequeathed, to them, in any manner what- 
soever; and to occupy, use, and enjoy, or sell, transfer, or 
herwise dispose of all such lands, tenements, and hered- 
iments, money, goods, or chattels, in any such manner as 
liey shall determine to be best adapted, and most condu- 
cive to the object of colonizing, with their own consent, in 
Africa, the free people of color of Maryland, and such slaves 
. ' may be manumitted for the purpose, and which is hereby 
declared to be the sole and exclusive object of the said 
snriptv; and as soon after the passage of this act as may 
be convenient, to cilect sacn oliicers as they, or a majority of 
I'.iem present at a meeting held for the purpose, may deem 
•oper, ?• ' .'"^ »naii« mm orOain such by-laws as may be ne- 
.jr tor tnc organization of the said society; for prescrib- 
ing the timer of meeting, the qualifications"' and terms of 
membership, mid all such other matters as may be necessary 
w secure to the said society an efficient and continuing ex- 
istence, for the p'.i-! oses of their incorporation, and for no 
^^^^^^i end for reguh-ting and managing the concerns of the 
?-:?'«. jod^- .orporaie: Provided however, That the constitution 
' '- . State, and the United States, be not violated 



B Y - L A \7 S 

Of the Maryland State Colonization Society. 

1. The payinont annually of one dollar, shall constitute 
ciii ind'v'ijual a member of this society; and a payment, at 
^y onetime, of thirty dollars, or upwards, shall constitute 
'■- individual a member for life. 

2. Ail persons who were life members of the Maryland 
State Colonization Society, before tlie incorporation of this 
society, sjiall be, and they are hereby declared to be, mem- 
bers for life of this society. 

S. The officers of this society shall consist of a President, 
S1.X Vice Presidents, twelve Managers, a Corresponding Secre- 



I tary, a Recording Secretary, and a Treasurer, to be ^Aq'-a^.o} 
I forthwith, and to serve until the annual meeting of the society 

next ensuing. 
; 4. The olficers shall be elected at every annual meetirig; 
but if an election shall not be held at such time, the officers 
last chosen shall continue to hold their respective offices until 
an election shall be made at a meeting of the society, to be 
called for the purpose. 

5. The President, Vice Presidents, Secret uies, and T"^3-/ 
surer, shall be ex officio members of the board of inana[^ers. 
(3. The Board of Managers shall meet to transact the busi- 
ness of ihc society, when seven shall constitule a quoruii.. — 
They shall have all the powers of the society, to enable t! em 
to carry into full etfect the provisions and intentions of the 
act of incorporation, and of any other acts of Assembly re- 
lating to colonization, or the people of color of Marylind, 
and in which the agency of this society now is. or may here- 
after be, required or requested — and all the powfcic of this 
society, for such purposes, are hereby vested in the sdid 
Board of Managers, in as full a manner as they could be ex- 
ercised by this society under the said act of incorporation. 
The Board of Managers shall have power to fill all vacancies 
that may occur in their number, or in any of the offices of 
this society: and to make such by-laws as the), from tim^ to 
time, may find expedient or necessary to the exerclou uf th > 
powers and authority vested in them. It i? especially Ch 
joined upon, and required of, the said Board of Managers, 
to form, or cause to be formed, auxiliary societies, wherever 
practicable throughout the state, upon such n rms and condi- 
tions as the said Board may prescribe. The <<)id Board shall 
meet on the first Monday in every month, and w.henever call- 
ed together by the President, or in his absencr, by one of 
the Vice Presidents. 

7. The Corresponding Secretary shall conduct. the corres- 
pondence of the society and the Board of Mana<^tvs. , 

8. The Recording Secretary shall keep the records of ^-'' o 
Society, the names, residences, and amount of Subscription 
of members, and shall act as the Secretary of the Board of 
Managers, and perform such other duties as may be required 
of him. 

9. The Treasurer shall keep the accounts, and take charge, 
subject to the order and regulations of the Board of Mana- 



gei«, of the funds of this society: and shall give bond "that 
he will truly and faithfully account for all monies of the so- 
ciety that may come to his hands," in such penally as the 
Board of Managers may, from time to time, fix. 

10. The annual meetings of this society shall be held on 
Lhe Wednesday immediately preceding the last ^[onday in 
December, in the city of Baltimore, when the members pre- 
sent shall be a quorum. 

11. Nu by-law of this society shall be altered or expunged 
unless? by consent of two-thirds of the members of the society 
nresent at a meeting called for the purpose. 



BY-LAWS 

Of the Board of Managers of the Maryland State 
Colonization Society. 

1. At all meetings of the Board of Managers, the Presi- 
wi'ent of the society shall preside: in his absence the Vice 
President present, whose name is highest on the list of Vice 
Presidents: in their absence any member may be called to 
the chair. 

^ Tho order of business at all meetings of the Board 
shall be as follows: 1. The proceedings of the last meeting 
shall be read. 2. Reports from the Executive Committee 
and Treasurer, and reports tVom any separate committee. 3. 
Any business that may be suggested by the presiding officer. 
1. Any other business claiming the attention of the Board. 

;-^. There shall be appointed an Executive Committee of 
.,iree, to act, in all cases requiring attention, in the recess 
of the Board, a majority of whom shall act: provided, that 
no emigration shall be determined on, vessel chartered, or 
gro' '-^cr sun than one hundred dollars authorized to be paid, 
\.' '^^^out the sanction of the Board. 

1 T/iu I'reasurer shall deposit in one of the banks of the 
city of Baltimore, in the name of the Maryland State Colo- 
nization Society, all funds that may be collected for its use; 
and pay by his check, countersigned by the President or one 
of the Vice Presidents, all claims against the society that 
may be sanctioned by this Board, or the Executive Committee, 



in accordance with the provisions of the third by-law. i^*: 
shall present an account of all monies received and expend'-ci 
by him, at tlie regular meeting of the Board next before liie 
annual meeting in December, and, also, whenever called 
upon by the Board of Managers. 



AN ACT 
Relating to the People of Color in this State, 

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of .Maryland, T'lat 
the governor and council shall, as soon as conveniently may be after Jie 
passage of this act, appoint a board of managers, consisting of three per- 
sons, who shall, at the time of their appointment, be members of the Mr,- 
ryland State Colonization Society, whose duty it shall he to remove f' in 
the state of Maryland, the people"of color now free, and such as shall l.>rc- 
aftcr become so, to the colony of Liberia, in Africa, or such other plac or 
places, out of the limits of this state, as they may approve of, and the per- 
son or persons so to be removed, shall consent to go to, accoiCinor to the 
provisions of this act, and to provide for their establishment and suppufw ..a 
far as necessary, and to discharge the other duties required of them by tins 
act- and before the said managers shall proceed to act, ihey shall severally 
cive bond to the state of Maryland, in the penalty of ten thousand doilars, 
conditioned for their faithful accounting for all monies that may come to 
their hands; which bond shall be approved by one of the judges of P.ilti- 
more county court, and sent to the treasurer of the western shore of t'ns 

Sec 2 Jlnd be it enacted, That it shall be the duty of the tre.>s<irer ci" tne 
western shore, to pav to the board of managers, to be appointed as herein- 
after di-ected, such sums as they shall, from time to tune, require, nor ex- 
ccedin'T in all the sum of twenty thousand dollars during the present year, to be 
applied' by them as they, in their discretion, shall think best, in removing or 
causin<T to be removed, such slaves as may hereafter become free, and such 
neople°of color as are now free, and may be willing to remove out oi the 
state to the colony of Liberia, on the coast of Africa, or to such other place 
or places, out of the limits of the stale, as they may think best, and as the 
said persons so to be removed, may consent to go to, in the manner herein- 
after provided; and the said board may, from time to time, make such prepa- 
rations at the said colony of Liberia, or elsewhere, as they may think best, 
which shall seem to them expedient for the reception and accommodaion 
and support of the said persons so to be removed, until they en a Ic enabh d to 
support themselves, and sliallalso take such measures aa may s.-em to t;i2m 




afuherr pToc'eedings'to the next (leiieral Assembly of tins state. 

Sec 3 Xi be it enacted. That it shall hereafter be the duty of every 
clerk of a county in this state, whenever a deed of manumission sh,.ll be 
Wft in 1 is oSice for record, and of every register of w.l.s, in every couu.y ol 



6 

thif state, whenever a will, manumitting a slave or slavea, shall be admitted 
to probate, to send within five days thereafter, (under a penalty of ten dol- 
lars for each and every omission so to do, to be recovered before any justice 
of the peace, one-half whereof shall go to the informer and the other half 
to the state;) an extract from such deed or will, stating the names, number 
and ages of the slave or slaves so manumitted, (a list whereof, in the case of 
a will so proved, shall be filed therewith, by the executor or administrator) 
to the board of managers for Maryland, for removing the people of color of 
said state and it shall be the duty of the said board, on receiving the same, 
to notify the American Colonization Society, or the Maryland State Coloni- 
zation Society thereof, and to propose to such society, that they shall engage, 
at the exr <.nse of such society, to remove such slave or slaves so manumit- 
ieu tc Liberia; and if the said society shall so engage, then it shall be the 
duty of the said board of managers to have the said slave or slaves delivered 
to the agent of such society, at such place as the said society shall aj^point, 
foi receiving such slave or slaves, for the purpose of such removal, at such 
tin e as the said society shall appoint; and in case the said society shall re- 
fuse so to receive and remove the person or persons so manumitted and offered, 
or in case the said person or persons shall refuse so to be removed, then it 
shall be the duty of the said board of managers to remove the said person or 
persons to such other place or places, beyond the limits of this state, as the said 
board shall approve of, and the said person or persons shall be willing to go 
lo. and to provide for their reception and support, such place or places as the 
saiJ board mny tlrink necessary, until they shall be able to provide for them- 
Belves. ot^t of any money that may be earned by their hire, or may be other- 
wise provided for that purpose; and in case the said person or persons shall 
refuse to be removed to any place, beyond the limits of this state, and shall 
persist in remaining therein, then it shall be the duty of the said board to in- 
form the sheriff of the county wherein such person or persons may be, of 
such refusal, and it shall thereupon be the duty of the said sheriff forthwith 
to arrest or cause to be arrested the said person or persons so refusing to 
emigrate from this state, and transport the said person or persons beyond the 
limits of this state; and all slaves shall be capable of receiving manumission, 
for the I'uipose of removal as aforesaid, with their consent, of whatever age, 
any law to the contrary notwithstanding. 

Sec. 4. And be it enacted. That in case any slave or slaves so manumit" 
ted, cannot be removed without separating families, and the said slave or 
slaves so unwilling on that account to be removed, shall desire to renounce 
the freedom so intended by the said deed or will to be given, then it shall and 
may be competent to such slave or slaves, to renounce, in open court, the 
benefit of said deed or will, and to continue a slave. 

Sec. 5. And he it enacted, That it shall and may be competent for the 
orphan's courts of this state, and for Baltimore city court, to grant annually 
'a permit to any slave or slaves so permitted as aforesaid, to remain as free 
in said county, in cases where the said courts may be satisfied by respectable 
tcetimony, that such slave or slaves so manumitted, deserve such permission 
on account of their extraordinary good conduct and character; Provided, 
s'ac'i permit shall not exempt any manumittor or his representatives, or his 
•-■ 'te, from any liability to maintain any hereafter emancipated slave, who, 
at t'iu i;.;r.o Ills or her right to freedom accrues, may be unable to gain a 
livehhood, or be over forty-five years of age at said lime, and afterwards be- 
coir.e unable to maintain himself or herself. 

."ice. 6. And be it enacted, That the said board of managers, shall in all 
cases where the removal of a slave or slaves manumitted as aforesaid, shall 
devotve upon them, have full power and authoritv, whenever the same shall 
be necessary, and can be done with advantage,' to hire out such slave or 
slaves so manumitted and so to be removed, until their wages shall produce 



a sufficien{ sum to defray all expenses attending their removal, and necessary 
su{^port at the place or places of such removal. 

Sec. 7. Jind be it enacted, That the treasurer of the western shore is 
hereby authorized and required, for tlie purpose of paying for tlie transporta- 
tion of the colored population of this state, to borrow, on the credit of the 
state, in certificates of stock, not less than one thousand dollars each, the 
sum of twenty thousand dollars, redeemable at the expiration of fiit<-en 
years, at a rate of interest not exceeding five per cent, per annum} and ♦he 
faith of the state is hereby pledged for the payment of the said priiic ipal 
when due, and the interest accruing semi-annually until paid; and the 
money so borrowed, is hereby appropriated to pay for the removal of ihe 
free colored population of the several counties of this state; and the 6iid 
treasurer is also required to borrow, on similar terms, and payable at the 
lapse of fifteen years from the date of the loan, such further euro or 
sums as may be required to pay the expenses incurred under this law, in 
removing the free people of color in this state to Liberia or elsewheivi, '<je- 
yond the limits of this state; Provided always, That the amount of loans 
made, shall not exceed two hundred thousand dollars. 

Sec. 8. ^nd be it enacted, That for the purpose of raising a fund to pay 
the principal and interest of the loans authorised and required by this act, 
the levy courts or commissioners of the several counties of this state, ;.s the 
case may be, and the mayor and city council of Baltimore arc hereby author- 
ised annually during the continuance of this act, to levy on the assf:;-;able 
property within their respective counties, clear of the c-rncnse of col:'.' tion 
severally, as follows: — on Somerset county, the sum o! three liundn.i and 
sixty-nine dollars and thirty three cents; on Worcester county, the f.M a of 
three hundred and twenty-seven dollars and thirty-three cents; on Dorchjster 
county, the sum of three hundred and sixty-seven dollars and thirty-vhree 
cents; on Talbot county, the sum of two hundred and seventy-six dollars; 
on Queen Anne-s county, the sum of three hundred and seventy-five fiv-Uars 
and thirty-three cents; on Caroline county, the sum of one hundred a' vi fifty 
dollars; on Kent county, the sum of two hundred an ! eighty-one ('.jllars; 
and on Cecil county, the sum of three hundred and i; ..iny-six dollara and 
sixty-six cents; on Hartford county, the sum of three liundreu ^nd *'>-y-six 
dollars and sixly-six cents: on Baltimore county, the sum oi three thousand 
two hundred and tbrty-four dollars and sixty-six cents; on Anne Arundel 
county the sum of six hundred and tifty-four dollars, on Prince (.corge's 
county, the sum of five hundred and twelve dollars and sixty-six ceuisj on 
Calvert county, the sum of one hundred and sixty dollars and sixty-si.\ cents; 
on Saint Mary's county, the sum of two hundred and sixty-three dollars and 
thirty-three cents; on Charles county, the sum of four hundreJ and !'jrty-six 
dollars and sixty-six cents; on Montgomery county, tho sum of three luindred 
and forty dollars and sixty-six cents; on Frederick county, the sum ./.' nine 
hundred and forty-four dollars and sixty-six cents; oa Washington '.ounty, 
the sum of four hundred and ninety-one dollars and thirty-one cents: and on 
Alleghany county, the sum of one hundred and fifiy-ei<2,ht dollars which said 
amount or sum shall be collected in the same manner, an-l l>y the aar^ir collector 
or collectors as county charges are collected, the levy c< 'irlsor commn 'loners 
as the case may be, and the mayor and city council of Baltimore respt c'.n^.ly, 
taking bond with sulhcient security from each collector f. i ii.o ^all^lt'l• collec- 
tion and payment of the money in the treasury of the eastern or western 
shore as the case may be, at the time of paying other public nioncyf^ to, and 
for the use of the state. 

Sec. 9. Jind be it C7iactcd, That the sheriffs of ihe several counties of 
this state, shall be, and they are hereby retpiired to c;iuse the numbc. of the 
free people of color inhabiting their respective counties to bo taken, and 
cause to be made, a list of the names of the said free peoi Ic of co'or re- 



siding in their respective counties; the said enumeration shall distinguish the 
sexes of said free people of color, and the said list shall state the ages of 
such free people of color, for effecting which the sheriffs aforesaid, shall have 
power and are hereby required to appoint one or more assistants in their 
respective counties, ihe said list of names and the said enumeration shall be 
made by an actual inquiry by such sheriff or his assistants at every dwelling 
house, or by personal inquiry of the head of every family; the said listing 
and enumeration shall commence on the first day of June next, and be com- 
pleted within three months thereafter, and the said sheriffs shall make out two 
copies of said list and enumeration stating the names, sexes, and ages of the free 
people of color in their respective counties, and shall deliver one copy to the 
clerk cf the'r respective counties, whose duty it shall be to record the same 
in ix L.>ok by him to be kept for that purpose, and the other copy shall be by 
said sheriffs transmitted to the board of managers appointed under this act, 
and every sheriff failing to comply with the duties prescribed in this section, 
shall forfeit two hundred dollars, to be recoverable in the county court of 
their respective counties by action of debt or indictment. 

Sec. 10. ^nd be it enacted, That the compensation of every sheriff and 
assistant shall be at the rate of two dollars and twenty-five cents for every 
fifty persons by him returned, except w here such person resides in the city 
of Baltimore, when such sheriff or assistant shall receive at the rate of one 
dollar and twenty-fiive cents for three thousand, and at the rate of one dollar 
and twenty-five cents for every three hundred persons over three thousand 
residing in the city of Baltimore, which said compensation shall be levied on 
the assessable property within the respective counties, and be collected in the 
same manner and by the said collector, or collectors, as county charges aie 
collected, and be by them paid over to the person entitled to receive the 
same; Provided, that the levy courts or commissioners of the respective 
counties, and the mayor and city council of Baltimore as the case may be, 
may, if they deem the compensation hereby allowed inadequate, allow such 
further compensation as they may deem proper. 

Sec. 11. ^nd be it enacted, That the several sheriffs of the counties of 
this state, shall ^ from time to time, make report to the said board of mana- 
ger? of suuli, of said free people of color in their said counties as they shall 
find willing to remove from the state, stating therein the names, ages and 
circumstances of such persons, and the place or places beyond the limits of 
this state to which they are willing to remove, and whether they are, or are 
not able to defray the expenses of such removal; whether any such means 
are provided; and it shall be the duty of the said board of managers when- 
ever they shall ascertain by the said reports of the said sheriffs or otherwise, 
that such persons of color are willing to remove from the state, to make a 
register of their names and ages, and take such measures as they may think 
nece. sary for their removal as soon as practicable, either to the colony of 
Liberia, or to such other place or places beyond the limits of this stale 
whicli the said board may approve of, and to which they may be willing to 
go, a'ld it shall be the duty of said board, if there shall be offered to them 
more than they can send in any one year, from the different counties as 
aforwsaid, to apportion the same among the said counties, according to the 
jiuuii'-or respectively of their free people of color, as appears by the last 
census. 

Sec. 12. Jlnd be it enacted, That nothing in this act shall be taken or 
con-irued to extend to any slave or slaves who may be entitled to his, her, or 
theu freedom hereafter, by virtue of any deed of manumission executed and 
recurded according to law, prior to the passage of this act, or last will &nd 
tesiiiment duly admitted to probate before the passage of si;id act, unless he, 
ehc, or they shall consent thereto. 



CONSTJTUTION OF IMARYLAND IN LIBERIA 

At a meeting of the Board of Managers of tlie Maryland 
State Colonization Society, held on the 22d of Novend^er, 
1833, Mr. Latrobe, from the committee on >lie subject of a 
Constitution and Form of Government and digest (f Laws 
for the territory that may be acquired by said society in Africa, 
to be called Maryland in Liberia, reported the followirg form 
of a Constitution, which, after being read and cons.dered, 
was. on motion by Dr. Baker, unanimously adopted: 

The Maryland State Colonization Society of Maryland, 
one of the United States of North America, to all persons to 
whom these presents shall come — greeting: 

Whereas, the Maryland State Colonization Society, de- 
sirous to hasten, as far as they can, the period when slavery 
shall cease to exist in Maryland, and believnig that this can 
best be done by advocating and assisting the cause t^f colo- 
nization, as the safest, truest, and most efficient auxiliary of 
freedom, under existing circumstances, have determined to 
establish a settlement, or settlements, of free colored people 
and emancipated slaves, under the auspices and control of 
the state society, at or near Cape Palmas, on the west coast 
of the continent of Africa, to be called Maryland in Liberia: 
And whereas, it is not less the desire of the society that thu 
evil of slavery should be removed from Maryland, than that 
the emigrants to Africa should find their happiness and pros- 
perity promoted by their change of home; and that, through 
their instrumentality, the blessings of civilization and the 
gospel should be extended to a benighted land: And whereas, 
acting with these views, it becomes the duty of the state so- 
ciety to aflbrd to the settlements which they may cause to be 
established, a system of equal laws, that shall secure to every 
emigrant, and his descendants, the unalienable rights of life, 
liberty, and the pursuit of liai)[)iness — Therefore, be it knovi'i, 
that the Maryland State Colonization Society do herr'\'; so- 
lemnly enact the following ^'Constitution," as the basi. and 
foundation of the government of any, and every settler lent, 
or colony, which may be established as aforesaid, under heir 
auspices'and control, in Africa, ratifying and conhrming tlie 



10 

same, according to its tenor, to all emigrants to such settle- 
u".enls, and their descendants, so long as the powers of 
government sh^ll continue to be exercised by the Maryland 
Siate Colonization Society. 

Art. I. The Maryland State Colonization Society shall 
hvve full power and right, from time to time, as they may 
th nk fit, to make and ordain rules, regulations, and ordi- 
na. ces, for the government of the territory acquired by them 
in AfricJi, called Maryland in Liberia, not repugnant to the 
provisions of this Constitution, until the state society shall 
witndraw their agents, and yield the government wholly into 
the hands of the people of the territory. 

Art. 2. Every emigrant of full age, before he or she shall 
be received in Maryland in Liberia, shall read or have rea<i 
to him or her this Constitution, and sign a declaration to sup- 
port the same, and they siiall, in so doing, bind themselves 
to refrain from the use of ardent spirits, except in case of 
sickness. 

AtiT. 3. No person shall hold any office in the said terri- 
tory, who either uses ardent spirits, with the above exception, 
or traffics in it; and the state society are pledged to carry 
the prmciple of abstaining from it, and preventing a traffic in 
it, into the local government of the territory, and have all the 
powers necessary for that purpose. 

Art a. Religion, morality, and knowledge, being neces- 
sary to good government, and the happiness of mankind, 
schools, and the means of education, shall forever be en- 
couraged. The utmost good faith shall always be observed 
towards the natives; their land and property shall not be 
taken from them, without their consent; and in their propert}', 
rights, and liberty, they shall never be invaded or disturbed, 
unless it may become necessary to do so, to repel aggressions 
on their part: but laws founded in justice and humanity, shall, 
from time to time, be made for preventing wrongs being done 
to them, and for preserving peace and friendship with them. 

Art. 5. No taxes shall be laid in the territory, except for 
the pu.pooc of defence, of internal improvement, education, 
and the support of the local government of the territory. — 
Duties and port charges, for the same purposes of revenue, 
shall be imposed, from time to time, at the discretion of the 
state society. 



11 

Art. 6. All elections shall be by ballot, the qan.lificaiions 
of voters to be fixed by the state society. 

Art. 7. That the great and essential principles of liberty 
and free government may be recognized, and forever unalter- 
ably established, it is hereby declared, as part ar^d parcel of 
this Constitution: 

1. All men have a natural and unalienable right to wor- 
ship Almighty God, according to the dictates of their own 
consciences, and no one shall be hurt, molested, or xx;a(?.rainpd, 
in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshipping God in the 
manner and season most agreeable to the dictates of his own 
conscience, nor for his religious professions or sentiments, 
provided he dees not disturb the public peace, nor obstruct 
others in their religious worship; and all persons demeaning 
themselves peaceably, as good members of the community, 
shall be equally under the protection of the laws; and no 
subordination or preference of any one sect or denomination 
to another, shall ever be established by law; norshaJl any re- 
ligious test be required as a qualification for any ofhce ui 
trust in the community; and all religious societies in the 
community, shall, at all times, have the exclusive right of 
electing their public teachers, and contracting with them for 
their support and maintenance. 

'i. Every member of the community may freely speak, 
write and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being re- 
sponsible for the abuse of that liberty. 

3. The people shall be secure in their persons, houses, 
papers and possessions, from unreasonable seizures and 
searches: and no warrant to search any place, or to seize 
any person or thing, shall issue, without describing them as 
nearly as may be, nor without probable cause, supported by 
oath or affirmation. 

4. No person shall be accused, arrested, or doiained, ex- 
cept in cases ascertained by law, and accordlnfr lo the forms 
which the same has provided, and no person shall be pufiish- 
ed, but by virtue of a law established and proniulguted pr'^-^r 
td the offence, and legally applied. 

5. in all criminal prosecutions, the accused has a right to 
be heard by himself and counsel: to demand the nature and 
cause of the accusation, and to have a copy thereof: to be 
confronted by the witnesses against him: to have compulsory 



12 

procesg for obtaining witnesses in his favor: and in all prose- 
cutions, a speedy trial by an impartial jury of the neighbor- 
hood or district in which the offence shall have been commit- 
ted: he shall not be compelled to give evidence against him- 
s^'.i", nor shall he be deprived of his life, liberty, or property, 
but by due course of law. 

6. No person shall, for the same offence, be twice put in 
jeopardy of Lis life or limb: nor shall any person's property 
bG-*5>k«^n or applied to public use, unless just compensation 
be made therefor. 

7. All courts shall be open, and every person, for an injury 
done him in his lands, goods, person or reputation, shall have 
remedy by due course of law, and right and justice adminis- 
tered freely without any sale, fully without any denial, and 
speedily without any delay. 

8. No power of suspending laws shall be exercised, ex- 
cept by the a'^thority which has enacted them, or its direc- 
tion. 

9. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines 
imposed, nor cruel punishments inflicted. All persons shall, 
before conviction, be bailable by sufficient securities, except 
for capital offences, when the proof is evident, or the pre- 
sumption great; and the privileges of the writ of "habeas 
corpus" shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of re- 
i>feliioii, ur invasion, the public safely may require it. 

10. The person of a debtor, where there is not strong pre- 
sumption of fraud, shall not be detained in prison after de- 
livering up his estate for the benefit of his creditors, in such 
manner as shall be prescribed by law. 

11. No ex post facto law, nor law impairing the obligation 
cf contracts, shall be made. 

12. The members of the community have a right, in a 
peaceable manner, to assemble together for their common 
good, and to apply to those invested with the powers of go- 
vernment, for redress of grievances, or other i)roper purposes, 
by petition, address, or remonstrance. 

13. Every member of the community has a ri"ht to bear 
arms in defence of himself and the community. 

14. The military shall, in all cases and at all times, be in 
strict subordination to the civil power. 

15. No title of nobility, or hereditary distinction, privilege, 



honor or emolument, shall ever be granted or conferred: icr 
shall any office be created, the appointment to wlucii shall 
be for a longer term than during good behavior. 

16. Emigration shall not be prohibited. 

17. The right of trial by jury shall be forever inviolate. 

18. No person shall be debarred from prose^^uting or ie- 
fending any civil cause, for or against him or herself, before 
any tribunal in the community, by him or herself, or counsel. 

19. There shall be neither slavery nor invcviintary servi- 
tude in the settlements of the Mar 'and State Colo.jization 
Society in Africa, otherwise than for the punicliment ol: 
crimes, whereof the party shall have been duly co.-^victed; 
nor shall any male person, arrived at the age of twenty-one 
years, nor female person, arrived at the age of eighteen 
years, be held to serve any person as a servant, under pre- 
tence of indenture, or otherwise, unless such person shall 
enter into such indenture while in a state of perfect freedom, 
and on condition of a consideration in goo^ faith, received 
or to be received, for their services, except as befoft; c.vceptdd. 

20. This enumeration of certain rights, belonging tor the / 
emigrants to the settlements which the Maryland State Colo- i 
nization Society may make in Africa, and their descendants, 
shall not be construed to deny or disparage the exercise, by 
the said society, of all others necessary or incident to govern- . 
ment. ^ 

21. And lastly, it is hereby declared, that this aiiiclo «hoU 
be construed, reputed and adjudged in all cases most fa- 
vorably on the behalf and for the best benefit and behoof 
of the emigrants aforesaid, and their descendants. 

AuT. 8. No alteration shall be made in this constitution, 
except by the unanimous consent of all present at a meeting 
of the Board of Managers, called for the purpose of taking 
such amendment or alteration into consideration, or by a vofo 
of two-thirds of the members present at two successive '"Get- 
in rrs of the Board of Managers called as aforesaid, provided 
that the declaration of rights contained in the sevenili arnoje, 
shall in no wise be altered. ^ , • .• 

Done at the office of the Maryland State Colomzatioa 
Society, in the city of Baltimore, in the state of Maryland, 
this twenty-second day of November, in the year Ci our 
Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three. 
2 



14 

In tesuriiony whereof, the president of the said society 
liath hereunto set his hand, and caused the seal of the said 
society to be affixed hereto, by order of the board of managers. 

Jno. H. B. Latrobe, Geo. Hoffman, [l. s.] 
Cor. Sec. of the Maryland President of the Maryland 

State Colonization Society. State Colonization Society. 

James Howard, Jno. Hoffman, 

Recording Secretary. Treasurer. 

MioriOLAS Brice, v. p. C. Carroll Harper. 

Nath'l Williams, V. P. Samuel Baker, M. D . 

Alexander Nesbit, V. P. John J. Harrod. 

Moses Sheppard. E. G. Edrington, M. D. 

Peter Hoffman. Will. Geo. Read. 

Solomon Etting. F. Anderson. 
Charles Howard. Managers. 



A copy of -he Constitution, carefully engrossed on parch- 
mcpt, having been presented by the committee, it was signed 
by the President, and the seal of the society attached to it. 
Ifs execution was witnessed by the officers and managers, 
wiio severally subscribed it, as above appears. 

On motion.) Resolved., That the engrossed copy of the Con- 
stitution be handed to Doctor Hall, to be by him deposited, 
should he succeed in purchasing territory and founding a 
cGitienient, among the archives of the sovernment. 



On motion., Resolved, That a copy of the Constitution be 
prepared in a substantial book, with the following declaration 
and agreement attached to it, — for the purpose of receiving 
the signatures of the Emigrants. 

"^Ve, the persons whose names are hereunto signed, do 
''«=^*^poy solemnly promise and declare, that we will severally 
supf orL gnd obey the foregoing Constitution, and we do hereby 
also solprnnly promise and declare, that we will abstain from 
the ise of ardent spirit except in case of sickness." 

^f.^. Latrobe from the committee on the constitution and 
foviA of government, reported an Ordinance for the govern- 
ment of Maryland in Liberia, which was unanimously adopt- 
ed, enacted and ordained by the board in the name of the 
society. 



15 



AN ORDINANCE 

For the temporary f^overnment of the territory of the 

Maryland State Colonization Society in Africa^ 

called Maryland in Liberia, 

Sec. 1. Be it enacted and ordained by (he M^iryUmd 
State Colonization Society, That the territory of Marylana in 
Liberia shall be divided into townships, each of which shall 
contain, as near as may be, a superfices equal to nine square 
miles; and, liereafter, a certain number of townships shall 
be made to constitute a county. 

Sec 2. Be it enacted and ordained, That the estates of 
proprietors in the said territory, dying intestu'te, shall de- 
scend to, and be distributed among their children, and the 
descendants of a deceased child, or grand-cLfio, +o take the 
share of their deceased parent, in equal parts, amoh^ '.ix<.iij; 
and where there shall be no children, or descendants, then in 
equal parts to the next kin, of equal degree*, and among 
collaterals, the children of a deceased brother, or sister, of 
the intestate, shall have, in equal parts, among them, their 
deceased parent's share; and there shall, in no case, be a dis- 
tinction between the whole and half blood: saving in all 
cases, to the widow of the intestate her third part of the TbvX 
estate for life; (that is to say, land and the improvements 
thereon, in which, at any time during marriage, tiie intestate 
had an absolute and unqualified ownership,) and one-third 
part of the personal estate, (that is to sny, all the property 
lield by the intestate at the time of his decease, other than 
\ real property,) after the payments of the debts of ihe intestate. 
Sec 3. Be it enacled^ind ordained. That estates in the 
said territory may be devised, or bequeathed, by will in writ- 
ing, or any written instrument, expressing ati jnientluu to 
devise or bequeath, and describing the property intended, so 
as to identify it, signed by him, or her, in whoa-, the estate 
may be, (being of full age) and attested by two witnesses, 
signing the same in the presence of each other, and in the pre- 
sence of the Testator. And real estates may be conveyed 
by any instrument describing, so as to identify it, the estate 
to be conveyed, and shewing the intention of the person 



16 

making the conveyance, to convey, signed and delivered by 
the person (being of full age) in whom the estate may be, 
and attested by two witnesses. 

Sec. 4. Be it enacted and ordained, That before such wills 
shall take effect, they shall be proved, by the testimony of one 
or both of the subscribing witnesses, to have been executed 
by the Testator, when he was of sound mind and under- 
standing, before the register (hereinafter mentioned) of the 
district of' the said territory, in which the testator resided, and 
deposited, with the register's certificate that it has been 
proved, endorsed thereon, for record among the records of 
his office. 

Sec. 5. Beit enacted and or dained^Thdiihe^oxe snch con- 
veyances shall take effect, according to their tenor, they shall 
be acknowledged before a justice of the peace, (hereinafter 
mentioned) of the said territory, and deposited for record 
with the rejjisUyt of the district of the territory, in which the 
land iip'-) which is intended to be conveyed: it being the 
duij yj^ the register, to note, on the back of said conveyance, 
the time of its being deposited for record. All deeds of 
real estate by way of pledge, shall be executed, acknowledged 
and deposited for record, as above, before they shall have any 
effect. 

Sec. 6. Be it enacted and ordained, That personal property 
y;}>:iU ^.a:co by delivery, except where the sale or conveyance 
thereof is by way of pledge, or where the person conveying 
the same retains possession thereof — in which case, the con- 
veyance thall be in writing, and acknowledged, and shall 
take effect when deposited for record, as in the case of real 
property. 

Src. 7. Be it enacted and ordained, That a wife shall be 
entitled to dower in all real estate, of which her husband 
may, at any time, be possessed, during their marriage, in case 
of her surviving him; and no deed, executed by him, shall 
have effect to deprive her of such dower, unless she signs 
iho same, and acknowledges, out of the presence of her hus- 
band, before the person taking liis acknowledgment, that she 
voluntarily executes it. Sales and conveyances of personal 
estate may be made, at any time, without the consent of the 
wife, by the husband alone. 

Sec. 8. Be it enacted and ordained. That in case any per- 
son, possessed * property, real or personal, in the said terri- 



17 

tory, shall die intestate (without having made a W''l) or 
without, in liis or her will, having appointed an adn-»-i»slraiui, 
until further enactment and ordinance upon th- subject an 
administrator and two appraisers shall be appointed, in writ- 
ing, by the agent, which administrator shall give bon ' vith 
security to be approved by the agent, for the faithful u ^ ' cir^c 
of Jiis office of administrator, — to be deposited with and 
preserved by the register: but no administrator, shall take 
possession of the property of the deceased person, before an 
inventory thereof shall be made, and the property apprais'^ 
by the appraisers in writing; which inventory and apprai.-,. 
nient shall be affirmed to, before a justice of the peuct^, ana 
returned to the register, with the justice's certificate of the 
affirmation endorsed thereon, to be carefully preserved and 
recorded in a book kept for that purpose; and such adminis- 
trator may, at all times, be called upon by the pariies inter- 
ested, or any of them, for an account of his administration, — 
be liable to have his appointment revoked, at tiic pleasure of 
the agent, — and, together with his securities, be josponsiblo, 
in his and their persons and property, for the faithful dis- 
charge of his office of administrator. A commis.lon, not to 
exceed ten per cent, may, at the discretion of tl- ■? agent, be 
allowed to the administrator, upon the amount that shall actu- 
ally come into his hands, of the intestate's estate. 

Sec. 9. Be it enacted and ordained^ That the roai estate of 
a deceased person shall not be resorted to for the payment of 
his debts, until the personal estate shall be exhausted. — 
Creditors shall be allowed four months, after administration 
granted, in which to present their claims, authenticated by 
their oath or affirmation, against the estate of a deceased 
person. The family of the deceased person, should there be 
any family, may occupy and use the real estate, without com- 
mitting any acts to injure it, until the division thereof, u nless 
it is ascertained by the administrator, that the real estate 
must be resorted to, to pay the debts of the ueccaacj, in 
which case he may take possession of and sell it at thc^cu.l 
of the said four months. It shall be in the discretion of the 
administrator of a deceased person to pay any claim, prc- 
«^ented after the said four months have expired, if he shall 
deem the same just. At the expiration of six months, o^i or 
administration granted, the creditors and heirs, respective ! . 
shall be entitled to the payment of the former chums, or t! 
2* ^ — 



18 
•division of the estate, according to law, among the latter, as^ 

Cicc. 10. 34; it enacted and ordained^ That where the estate 
of a deceased person does not admit of partition among those 
Jnteiubied^ v. thout loss and injury to some of them, the same 
nrfay be sold., after proper notice, at public sale, to the highest 
bidder, by ihe administrator, and the proceeds, after deduct- 
ing v.«venses, divided among the parties interested, according 
to their -respective rights. 

3EC. 11. Be if enacted and ordained^ That the agent shall 

o, in like manner appoint guardians for the persons and 
propt-rty of minors, who have lost both parents, which guar- 
dians shall gi^'e bond with security, to be approved by the 
agent, for tip faithful discharge of their office, in the care 
and honest dt nosition of the property of the minors, that 
may come iriti their hands. Guardians' bonds shall be de- 
posited with ti.e register, as in the case of administration 
bonds. Tiie'^»-Hlation of a guardian to the person of his 
ivuid a)mll be t" e same, as near as may be, as that of a parent 
to a child; provided, that the guardian shall not be answera- 
ble, pecuniarily, beyond the estate of the ward, for the 
maintenance of the ward. 

Sec. 12, Be it enacted and ordained. That there shall be 
appointed from time to time, by the Maryland State Coloni- 
zation Society, an agent, with the title of governor, whose 
commission shall continue in force for the term of two years, 
unless sooner revoked, by the society. He shall reside in 
the territory, while in the exercise of his office, and shall 
represent there the state society, and be invested with all its 
powers, subject to the constitution of the territory, and the 
ordinances ?Knd decisions of the state society. 

Sec. 13. he it enacted and ordained^ That there may be 
aj>pointed, from time to time, by the state society, an assist- 
ant agent, subc. -^ite to the agent, whose commission shall 
continue m fci... for the term of two years, unless sooner 
revoked by thr '^♦o society. He shall reside in the territory, 
whilb in the €^v ^e of his office, — shall be one of the coun- 
cil of the F.o^3n.— shall co-operate with and assist him in the 
discharge of his duties, and, in the event of his absence or 
death, shall exercise his authority. 

Sec. 14, Be it enacted and ordained. That it shall be the 
doty of the agent, to obey and carry into effect, all the or- 



19 

dinances and regulations of the state society, which are com- 
municated to him: to exercise a general superintendence 
over the concerns, police and officers of the territory: to 
make a semi-annual report to the state society, oi the con- 
dition and relations of tiie territory, together with an account 
of all his receipts and expenditures on behalf of the society; 
to recommend such laws as from time to time, he may see 
proper, to the state society; to negotiate aad sign ail trea- 
ties with the natives; to execute all conveyancco rm behalf 
of the state society, and superintend the correspondence of 
the territory. He shall also be the commander in chief of 
the militia of the territory, and issue commissions to all offi- 
cers in the same, below the rank of general officers. All 
general officers shall be appointed and commissioned by the 
state society; all company officers shall be|. elected by the 
companies respectively, and all intermedi? ,e officers shall 
be appointed by the agent. The agent ant, assistant agent, 
shall have all the authority of justices of tl-'j p'^ace, except 
in case of small debts (hereafter mentionet;,;'^ 

Sec. 15. Be it enacted w id ordained, That in cases of 
necessity, where no rule has been made by the state society, 
the agent, in council, is authorized to make the necessary 
rules or regulations, of which he shall, by the first oportunity, 
inform the board of managers of the state society for their 
approbation, and they shall be in force, until thev are revoked 
by the board of managers and notice of their revocatjon ir. 
received by the agent. in. 

Sec 16. Be it enacted and ordained, That there shail bo 
appointed by the agent, from time to time, a secretary, whose 
commission shall continue in force one year, unless sooner 
revoked, and who shall reside in the territory during the ex- 
ercise of his office. He shall take charge 'of and carefully 
keep, all the papers, records and archives of the territory, 
relatincr to government; shall be prese.r/r.^,t,f and exactly re- 
cord the proceedings of the agent in e ...//?ii; r,'.»aU publish 
all the ordinances and notices of the gov, ^ment, so thai ihe 
people may be informed thereof; issuu ../^ge"* ^ or^lers, as 
he may direct; keep a copy of the ^«f''Si'«"f^"^^.^'l:': 
ports of the agent; record i" ^ proper booic altreati^^sm^^^^^^ 
by the agent; and attend to the recording, by the reg .ter, of 
all other^nslruments, proper to be recorded n. vvlch^^^ 
government is interested; and perform generall;,, ^uch duties 



20 

£3 may be imposed upon him by the agent, in conducting the 
internal affairs and cuire.=pondence of the territory. 

Se^ 17. o<? it enacted and ordained^ That there shall be 
appointed by the agent a competent number of justices of the 
peace, whose c'-.'^i mission shall continue in force for one year, 
unless sooner revoked, for cause. It shall be their duty to 
take cognizance of all breaches of the peace, or the laws, of 
the lerritory, to issue their writ to arrest offenders; to take 
from the'ii secsrity, in all bailable cases, to appear before the 
p.»oper tribunal, and, in default of security being given, to 
send the offender to the agent with a certificate of the default; 
to take security to keep the peace, when, upon oath or affir- 
mation, before them, allegation is made that it will be broken: 
\o issue search warrants; to act judicially, in all criminal 
cases, where the offence is theft, and the value of the article 
stolen, does net exceed one dollar, sentencing the offender to 
restoration of frve times the value of the thing stolen, and in 
default of rcc;tit!3tion, sending the offender to the agent, in 
the fcusiody of j constable, with a certificate of conviction, 
that such pun^-'/iment may be inflicted, as may be provided 
by law in such ^- 'es. Provided^ that no warrant or writ shall 
be issued, in ''y criminal matter, or for any alleged breach 
of the laws of 'ie territory, whereby the liberty of an indi- 
vidual may be restrained, or his or her house or premises 
searched, except the offence shall be committed in view of 
tiid justice of the peace, (when he shall personally arrest the 
offender, without the form of a writ or warrant,) or upon the 
oath or affirmation of a credible person, who shall testify to 
the facts from nersoiial knowledge, or shall state circum- 
stances, whic! " *he opinion of the justice make it proba- 
ble, that an offe" ^las been committed, or that there is reason 
to suspect, that'sf m property is in the place (which must be 
particularly desci'led in the writ or warrant) authorised to 
be searched. 

Juatices of the peace shall have jurisdiction in all civil 
c»'.^es, where the amount in dispute between the parties does 
not exceed twenty dnllars, and all fines not exceedincr that 
amount, may be collected before them. They shair have 
power to summon witnesses at the request of parties, in any 
cause before them, and to fine them, not exceeding ten dol- 
lars for non-attendance, when summoned, or, if in attendance, 
lor relusing to answer questions propounded to them, and not 



21 

subjecting tliem to the risk of punishment, other than a pecu- 
niary fine. All judgments, given b)^ aij-ustice of the; peace, 
shall be in writing, entered in a book kept by him for the pur- 
pose, and either parly may, on demand, have a cc ry the'Tof. 

Justices of the peace shall endorse all - owiedgments, 
required by law to be made before them, on the instrument 
acknowledged. Two justices of the peace shall have power 
to issue their joint writ, directed to the slierifl", requiring him 
to summon all persons to aid in quelling a riot, nadjiv main- 
taining the authority of the government. 

Sec. 18. Be it enacted and ordained. That a competenlc 
number of constables shall be appointed by the agent, ,whcse 
appointment shall continue in force one year, unless sooner 
revoked. Their duty shall be to execute all writs and sum- 
monses, directed to them by a justice vf the peace; to inter- 
fere to quell all riots, or riotous conduct that may happen in 
their presence; to arrest all persons guilty of a breach of the 
peace before them, and take them before <t j -rtice of the 
peace, to be dealt with according to law. Fees for u.^;, «^, 
vices, according to a table to be made hereal r, shall be al- 
lowed to justices of the peace and constJibl 

Sec. 19. Be it enacted and ordained, Tl.. th.ere shall be 
elected by the qualified voters t)f the territr. , the following 
officers. A vice-agent, two counsellors, a register, a sheriff, a 
treasurer and a committee on new emigrants. There shall also 
be elected, by the qualified voters of every township, a cuj^i- 
mittee of three persons residing in the township, to be caned 
the "select men:" and all male colored people, who have 
subscribed the oath to support the constiiution and hold land 
in the territory in their own right, or who. holding land, 
shall pay a tax of not less than one dolh.r. . .nnum, for the 
support *of education and the purposes of • vcrnment, (being 
of full aae) shall be entitled to vote for the..i .fficers, as well as 
all other" offices that may be filled by the p- .pie; and all per- 
sons shall be eligible to said offices, provided, that '« addi- 
tion to the said qualifications, they know how to read .ind 

""'sec. 20. Beit enacted andordcnned,Thf Vrevwustoe^ch 

election, the sheriff shall designate, l^ V^^^^^^l^^^ 

convenient place in each district or township, ^^ here polls 

hall beopeLd, and appoint ^1^- j-J^^^es an a c^er^^^^^^^ 

each of the polls. All elections shall be by ballot, tHe time 



22 

">l holding the elections shall be the first Monday of March 
Ir eadi year; should any thing prevent an election from 
being held, the ihen incumbents shall hold their offices, until 
a new election does take place. 

Sec. 21. Be it enacted and ordained, That the vice-agent 
shall be elected annually. — He shall be a member of the 
agent's council; he shall aid the agent and assistant agent in 
the discharge. of, their various duties, and in the event of the 
absence or, death of the agent and assistant agent, shall ex- 
ercise the authority of agent; he shall have all the powers of 
a- justice of the peace, except in the case of small debts. 

Sec. 22. Be it enacted and ordained. That the two coun- 
selFors shall be elected annually, and, together with the assist- 
ant agent, and vice-agent, shall constitute a council, which 
shall deliberate and consult, without the privilege of voting, 
with the agent, on the appointment of officers, the forming 
rules and regulations, and the general interest of the territory 
whenever requp^ted so to do by the agent. In case of the 
absence c ^eath of the agent, assistant agent and vice-agent, 
.ae acnjTor counsellor shall exercise the authority of agent. 

The assistant agent and vice-agent, shall also advise with 
the other members of the council on any subjects connected 
with the general welfare, as often as they shall think proper, 
and report the result to the agent, if they see fit, or act upon 
the same in case of his absence. 

Sec, -''3. Be it enacted and ordained. That the register 
shall be elected every three years. It shall be his duty to re- 
cord all papers, deeds, wills, inventories and other instru- 
ments, iviiich, in any way. afiect the title to property, that 
may be handed to him for that purpose: he shall take proof 
of wills, and certify the same on the will itself. He shall 
record deeds relating to real estate in one set of books, — 
deeds of personal estate in another, — wills and probates in 
another. — inverAories in another. — certificates in another, — 
patents and iice'i.^es in another, — and to each volume he shall 
maUc an alphabetical index as he proceeds. He shall be 
'-U^^o<i such fees for recording as raav be hereafter fixed 
upon. t,^i lo exceed ten cents for every hundred words 
recorded, and aVo fees for searches. 

Sec. 2A. Beit enacted and ordained, Th^iiheshex'i^^hdM 
be elected annually. It shall be his duty to execute all sum- 
monses, write, executions and judgments issued by the courts 



23 

aftPnH^ '".i''"'^- '""^ '^ ^^"^ ^^''"^^^^•' *^ «"'^^^^^°« juries- to 
attend, either in person or deputy, at the -essiors of i' « 

sTld^^M^'^ ''^'^f ^^ ^'^ Pe-ns/directed ;;: t^ 

heTr . / ^'' ^"^'"'' authorities, and to be responsible Z 

l7.f! ^''P'"^^ '° ^'^'f "^^'^^ °^' -"d organize elections: 



and whenever so re.u.ed b, the Joint ^^if^^;: ^.J^ 
of the peace, to summon all persons to aid in quelling a riot 
and in maintaining the authority of the gover.iment He 
sliall give bond with security to be approved by the ,..^^^1 to 
account for and pay over all monies that may come TutoW 
possession, belonging to others, in the discharge of hiy office. 
He shall have all the powers of a constable, and shall be al- 
lowed such fees as may be fixed by law hereafter. 

Sec. 25. Be it enacted and ordained, That the treasurer 
shall be elected every three years. He shall take charge of 
monies belonging to the government, keeping an account 
thereof, and distinguishing the several sources from wMrh 
they accrue. He shall also take charge of ail public secu- 
rities and evidences of debt, in which the governmeui^--^-, 
be interesled. He shall deliver up, and pay over the prope 
or money in his keeping, only upon the order of the agt nt.' lie 
shall make out an account of his receipts and disbursesnents, 
every six months, and shall furnish one copy thereof, to be 
recorded among the archives of the colony, and anoi.^ier to 
be transmitted to the state society. 

He shall give bond, with security to be approved by rne 
agent, to account for, and pay over, all monies that may come 
into his possession in the discharge of his office. 

Sec. 26. Be it enacted and ordained, That the committee 
on new emigrants shall consist of three persons elected an- 
nually. It .shall be their duty to assist the officers of the ter- 
ritory in providing for the reception, accommodaiion and 
provisioning of new emigrants; — to meet at st. ♦ed periods to 
hear their complaints and wants, and the repor'- of tJ^e select 
men respecting them, and make known the same tu ihe -agent. 
They shall have, under the control of the agent, the disLribr 
tion of rations to the new emigrants, and shall niikc t;. 'vtekiy 
return to the agent of the number of emigrant, on rations, 
and the quantity distributed to them. The senior member 
shall be chairman of the committee. 

Sec. 27. Be it enacted and ordained, That thescicct men 
of each township shall consist of three persons, to be elected 



24 

annually^ by the voters of the township. It shall be their 
duty to »ake into consideration the agriculture of the town- 
ship^ its healtli, the proper objects of medical attention; 
^'^.r-^'i nu":-;ir.ces, prejudicial to the public health, to be re- 
moved; assist the cofnrniltee on new emigrants in the dis- 
charge of thuir duties in the township, and act, generally as 
conservators of the public morals, and promoters of industry 
in their township. 

The sei^ior member shall act as chairman. When they see 
p-oper, they may call public meetings in their township, upon 
subjects connected with the agriculture, health and morals 
ot their constituents, when the chairman shall act as mode- 
rator. They shall make a quarterly examination of the 
schools in the township, and report their number and the 
number of their pupils, in writing, to the agent. 

They shall attend to keeping cl-ear, and in repair, all streets 
and roads in the township; and, generally perform such du- 
ties in the t *«ship, as may assist in its good government. 
TJse /jt.airman shall act as coroner of the township, and shall 
summon a jury, to ascertain the cause of every sudden and 
suspicious death, that may happen in the township, and re- 
port their verdict to the agent. The select men shall appoint 
their clerk, to be called the township clerk, whose duty it 
shall be to keep a record of their proceedings, — publish and 
serve their notices, — and make out during the first three 
TijoniiiSJ of his appointment, a list, or correct the list last 
made, of all iiouseholders and their occupations in the town- 
ship, a copy of which, when completed, shall be furnished to 
the agent. It shall also be his duty, within the same period, 
to make out and hand to the sheriff, a list of all persons in 
the township, qualified to serve as jurors. 

Sec. 9.3. Be it macted and ordained^ That, until otherwise 
provided for by law, there shall be a court held on the first 
Monday o^ ev^ry month, to be called the court of monthly 
sessions, the judges of which shall be the agent, (in his ab- 
sence the assistant, and in the absence of the agent and as- 
tant ageiU.,, the vice-agent) and two justices of the peace. 
The justices shall be notified by the agent to attend, two at 
every court, according to seniority, so that allthe justices, in - 
rotation, shill (ill the station of judges of the court. The j 
agent, assistant agent, or vice-agent respectively, as they hap- j 
pen to be upon the bench, shall act as chief judge. The 



25 

courls of monthly sessions shall have original jurisdiction of 
ail civil and criminal cases, other than those committed ko 
the justices of the peace; and shall have appellate ''^nsdictJon 
in all civil cases whatsoever The members of the court for 
the month of January, in every third year, shall appoint the ^■ 
clerk of the court, to act as such for the three years suc- 
ceeding the date of his appointment. He shall keep a record 
of the proceedings of the court, and of all judgments pro- 
nounced by it, and shall have the custody of itl r^al He 
shall sign and issue all writs and summonses, and shall ...kf. 
charge of all papers in suits before the court, subject to it« 
order. Whenever required, he shall give certified copies, 
under the seal of the court, of all judgments rendered by it. 

Sec. 29. Be it enacted and ordained, That no person shall 
serve as a juryman, unless he be of the age of twenty-five 
years, of good name and repute, and shall know how to read 
and write: and in summoning jurymen, it shall be the duty 
of the sheriff to sumnion them in rotation fro/n among all 
the inhabitants, so that the performance of the duty shqll in- 
terfere, as little as may be, with ordinary avocations. No 
one shall be excused from serving as a juryman, but upon 
application to the court, stating a sufficient reason, — saving 
and excepting school teachers, physicians, officers appointed 
by the state society, vice-agent, counsellors, justices of the 
peace, constables, secretary, register and collector. 

Sec. 30. Be if enacted and ordained, That a store-keeper, 
whose duty it shall be to take charge of the public stores, — 
a surveyor, whose duty it shall be to locate roads and lots, and 
when required by the court or agent, or upon individual ap- 
plication tore-survey the same, — an inspector of arms, whose 
duty it shall be to see that the ordinance, arms and public 
defences of the territory, are kept in good repair, — a collector, 
whose duty it shall be to collect, and pay to the trc: surer, all 
duties, taxes and charges arising out of the com rarcial, as 
well as the internal regulations of the territory,- a public 
auctioneer, and a librarian, may from time to time, be appoini, 
ed by the agent, to hold thei'r offices for one year, unless 
sooner revoked, whenever he shall think that the necessities 
of the territory require it. u n u 

Sec. 31. ^e it enacted and ordained, That there shall be 
at least one public school in every township of the territory, 
the teacher whereof shall be appointed by the agent in coun- 
3 



26 

cil. It shall be the duty of every parent to send his or her 
cV.'fdren, and of every guardian, the child or children under 
his or her care, of a fit age, to school, when there is a public 
school ii. tiie township, until they shall learn to read and 
\7rite and cast accounts; and every father, or if there is no father 
then -nother, and if there is neither father nor mother, then 
guard'/ '^- the children of whom, or, under whose care, are 
not S3iit to school, after being notified thereto by the select 
m^, ) lK^W be fined, at the discretion of the select men, not 
I^s'than twelve and an half cents, nor more tlian twenty-five 
lients, for every month, that each child is not sent to school: 
vrhich fines may be collected, as small debts are, before a 
justice of the peace, and shall be appropriated to the use of 
public schools. 

Sec. 32. Be it enacted and ordained, That all males be- 
tween the ages of sixteen and sixty, residing in the territory, 
shah be enrolled in the general militia, and be liable to be 
called up ", at the discretion of the agent, under oflScers ap- 
pointed oy him, in the defence of the territory. The volun- 
teer militia shall consist wholly of uniformed volunteer com- 
panies, who may elect their own officers, to be commissioned 
by the agent, and enact by-laws for their government, to be 
approved by the agent: every such by-laws containing a 
provision, that each company shall hold itself in readiness, at 
all times, to perform such actual military services, as may be 
ifequired by Uie agent. When two or more volunteer compa- 
nies are formed, the agent shall appoint a major to command 
them. 

Military rJences, such as disobedience of orders, absence 
from, and 3glect of duty, violation of by-laws, shall be tried 
by a quarterly court martial, composed of commissioned 
oflScers, aprointed by the agent, whose sentences shall be in 
writing, an shall be subject to the agent"'s approval. 

Sec. 33, ^e it enacted and ordained. That traflic in ardent 
spiiii is expressly prohibited, within the territory; and all 
persons convicted of selling it shall forfeit their licences as 
traders, nor shall other licences be given to tliem for one year 
after the date of the conviction; besides being subject to such 
fine, not exceeding one hundred dollars for every offence, 
(one half v '-ereof shall belong to the informer,) as the court, 
where the conviction takes place, may think proper to impose. 
A sj^cient quantity will be kept in the government stores to 



i 



27 

supply the demands occasioned by sickness: and her* '^"' 
may ardent spirit be lawfully obtained. 

Sec. 34. Be it enacted and ordained, That no ennigrant 
shall be permitted to deal with the natives for irnd; nor for 
any other thing, without the license of the agent- in council, 
to continue in force for one year, unless sooner re oked, being 
first had and obtained — labor, food and clothing, for the actual 
use of the emigrant, excepted. No person shall carry on 
trade of any kind in the territory, without the license of the 
agent being first had and obtained. 

Sec. 35. Be it enacted and ordained, That every man 
with a wife, or man or woman, with a child or children^cn 
arriving in the territory, shall have conditionally, for him or 
lierself and family, a farm lot, containing five acres of land, 
which shall be his or her own, absolutely, upon condition, that, 
within two years after receiving it, he or she puts, or causes to 
be put, improvements upon another lot, to be designated by the 
agent, equal to those which were upon his or ho*- lot, when 
it was first given to him or her, or which were afterw r.aa, jiut 
there, for him or her, at the expense of the goverme\ ^, Or, 
if within two years after he or she shall have receivcJ a va- 
cant unimproved lot, should he or she select such, or the agent 
in his discretion give such, he or she shall clear one acre of 
it, and erect a substantial native house thereon, to the satis- 
faction of the agent. If these conditions should not be com- 
plied with, the lot shall be forfeited and belong again to 
government. Unmarried men, of full age, shall have each a 
half farm lot upon the same conditions as above. If the man 
marries, or if he has the whole of his half farm lot, in good 
cultivation, he shall have the entire farm lot, of which he 
before had but one half. If a man, a member of a family 
that already has a lot, marries, he shall have a lot upon the 
same conditions that lots are given to new emigrants, as 
above. 

The agent may, in his discretion, if an emigrant dosires, 
give to him or her, instead of a farm lot, a town lot: but in 
such case, the town lot must be cleared, fenced an a a good 
house, to be approved by the agent, must be built upon it, 
within one year, or the same shall be forfeited. Any emi- 
grant who is the absolute owner of a farm lot, wiay have a 
town lot, at the discretion of the agent, on paying a price 
therefor, and clearing, building on, and fencmg the same, 



28 

-wf one year: and an emigrant who is the absolute owner 
of a tov/n lot, may have a farm lot at the discretion of the 
agent, on paying a price therefor, and performing the same 
conditions that are imposed upon new emigrants. 

When an emigrant receives a lot in the first instance, the 
agent shall give to him a certificate, containing the condition 
on which he is to become the absolute owner: and when the 
condition is complied with, the certificate shall be exchanged 
^r an absolute deed. 

Persons holding town or farm lots, are to keep the streets 
and roads contiguous thereto clear and in good travelling 
order, to the middle thereof, and to cultivate such trees as 
may be planted or left standing there for shade. 

In the first settlement of the territory, assistance may be 
afforded to emigrants in clearing, fencing and building on 
their own lots, at the discretion of the agent; and, when ne- 
c^;ssary, on their arrival, rations shall be given to them for 
their s'VPor^? provided no person shall receive rations for a 
longwr period than six months after his arrival. 

Should the agent deem proper, he may cause long native 
houses to be built, in convenient places, in which new emi- 
grants may be received on their arrival, remaining there until 
they can get a horuse built on their own lots, or otherwise 
provide for their own accommodation, provided that they 
shall not be entitled to remain in the said long houses, 
longer than six months from the time of their arrival in the 
territory. 

Sec. 36. Be it enacted and ordained, That no person 
shall own land in the territory, who does not reside therein. 

Sec. 37. Be it enacted and ordained^ That until a more 
full code shall be prer^^red, the following general rules shall 
regulate the punishment of offences, not herein before provided 
for, in the territory. ,i 

Murder, rape, setting fire to a house at night, in which a 
peiSon or persons then reside, shall be considered capital 
ciinaes, and shall, on conviction, be punished with death: 
trading m slaves shall also be punished with death. Sedition, 
mutiny and insubordination to the lawful authorities shall be 
punished by the court of sessions, on conviction, by exile, 
fine and impn^^onment, labor on the public works, or farm, 
with a clog, aiKl close imprisonment at night, or all or any 
of these punishments. Quarelling, riot, sabbath breaking, 



29 

drunkenness and profaneness, may upon conviction, in the 
court of sessions, he punished by fine and imprisonment. 

Carnal illicit intercourse with native women, shall be pun- 
ished, on conviction, by fine and imprisonment, for the first 
offence; and a repetition of it shall be punished, on con- 
viction, by fine and imprisonment, labor on the public farm, 
or works, and close confinement at night. 

AH other criminal offences, cognizable by the court of 
monthly sessions, may be punished by fine and imprisonmc^jU- 
labor, with a clog, on the public farm or works, with cipse 
confinement at night and exile, in the discretion- -^ the coUrt, 
and according to the nature of the crime. 

Criminal offences cognizable by justices of the peace shall 
be punished by fine and imprisonment, labor on the public 
farm, and close confinement at night. In case of failure to 
find security for good behaviour, when required, the person 
so failing, shall perform such labor on tNe ij^hllo farm, with 
close confinement at night, as the agent may deem prc^f^? 
until he shall find security, or the object, for which it was 
required of him, shall have been answered 

Persons failing to find security to appear at court to answer 
criminal charges against them, may, at the discretion of the 
agent, be compelled to work on the pi'olic farm, and sub- 
jected to close confinement at night, until the meeting of the 
court. 

Sec. 38. Be it enacted and ordained, That it shall be the 
duty of the agent to cause to be cleared, and cultivated, in 
each township, a public farm, of such extent, as he may think 
desirable, to be under the management of a person appointed 
by the agent, unless before appointed by the state society. 

Persons who are, at any time, wii out means of support 
after the period has elapsed, during which they are permitted 
to draw rations; persons sentenced 1/ the oroper authorities 
to work on the public farm, — shall be made w r.-- 1-. in the 
cultivation of this farm, and its produce shall be applied ♦« 
their support, in the first instance, and afterwards, to tk<j use 
of the government. 

In the first organization of a settlement, the agent may re- 
quire, if he thinks it necessary for the public good, that all 
male persons, in good health, shall labor for a time on the 
public farm, for the general support. 

Attached to each public farm, there shall be one, or more, 



30 

long nativ^e houses, for the accommodation of the laborers; 
a part shall be allotted to the accommodation, expressly, of 
persons laboring under sentence of the law, which shall be 
strong enough to confine them at night. 

Sec. S9. Be it enacted and ordained, That the power of 
pardoning offences belongs to the agent. 

Sec. 40. Be it enacted and ordained. That bed and bed- 
ding, w^^.ring apparel, cooking utensils, an axe and a hoe, 
shall in all cases, be exempted from liability for debts incur- 
-<-»; by their owner. 

§EC. 41. 7?.. it enacted and ordained. That no person 
shall rtu.uu in the territory, without permission of the society, 
or the agent. 

Sec. 42. i^nd whereas. Although circumstances require, 
that the government of the said territory should remain in 
the state society for the present, yet the time is looked for- 
ward to, when tlif^ people shall assume the government to 
theraselvpcj exclusively; and as it is the desire of the state 
socieiy, to prepare them for that period, in such a manner, as 
will best guaranty their prosperity, as an independent people; 
and whereas it is proper, that the course contemplated by the 
state society, should be clearly explained in the beginning, 
for the satisfaction of those who may abandon their present 
country, for Africa, the country of their fathers, therefore, 

Ba it enacted and ordained. That, so soon as there shall 
be five thousand male inhabitants in the territory, governed 
by the state society, in Africa, upon giving proof thereof to 
the agent, they shall receive authority, with time, and place 
appointed, to elect representatives to represent them in a gen- 
eral assembly; provided, that for every five hundred male 
inhabitants there shall be one representative, and so on pro- 
gressively, with the number of male inhabitants, shall the 
right of representation increase, until the number of repre- 
sentatives sh"^' amount to twenty-five, after which, the number 
and proKjrtion of representatives shall be regulated by the 
osbcmhly itself: ^jvovided, that no person shall be eligible to 
be elected as a representative, unless he has resided three 
years in Maryland in Liberia, and shall hold real estate in the 
territory, in his absolute possession; nor shall any person vote 
for a representative, who is not qualified, as prescribed for 
voters for the offices herein before enumerated. 

The representatives, thus elected, shall serve for the terra 



31 

of one year, and in case of the death of a representative, or 
his removal from office, the agent shall cause a new election 
to be held by his constituents, for a member in his stead, to 
serve the residue of the term. 

The general assembly or legislature, shall consist of the 
agent, legislative council, and house of representatives. The 
legislative council shall consist of five members, to continue 
in office three years, any three of whom to be a quorum; and 
the members of the council shall be nominated and appointed 
in the following manner, to wit: As soon as representatives 
shall be elected, the agent shall appoint a time and place for 
them to meet together, and when met, they shall nomiiiate 
ten persons, not of their own body, having the qualificalioiis 
of representatives, and return their names to the state society, 
five of whom the state society shall commission lo serve as 
aforesaid; and whenever a vacancy shall occur in the council, 
by death, resignation or removal from office, the house of 
representatives shall nominate two persons, q«-'a]i<ied as afore- 
said, for such vacancy, and return their names to t^e ^^^i^ 
society, one of whom the state society shall appoint and 
commission, for the residue of the term; and every three 
years, at least six months before the expiration of the time of 
service of the members of the council, the said house shall 
nominate the ten persons qualified as aforesaid, and return their 
names to the state society, five of whom the state society shall 
appoint and commission, to serve as members of iije ccunciJ 
three years unless sooner removed. And the agent, legisla- 
tive council and house of representatives shall have authority 
to make laws in all cases for the good government of the 
territory, not repugnant to the constitution of ?he territory, 
and the ordinances and decisions of the stato society, until 
the government shall pass wholly into tiie hands of the peo- 
ple of Maryland in Liberia; and all bills passed by a majority 
in the house, and a majority in the council, shall be refered 
to the agent for his assent; l3ut no bill or legislative act, what- 
soever, shall be in force without his assent. The agent shall 
have the power to convene, prorogue and dissolve the gene- 
ral assembly, when in his opinion, it shall be expedient. 

Sec. 43. Be it enacted and ordained, That whenever the 
council of five herein before mentioned, shall come into 
office, they shall supersede the counsellors, iicrein before 



32 

-/^mentioned,, whose powers and functions they will at onc< 
perform. 

Sec. 44. Be it etiacfed and ordained, That, until the stat 
society shall wholly withdraw their agent, and give up th 
government of the territory to the people thereof; all commii 
sions, patents, licenses, treaties, deeds of public lands, rul< 
and regulations, whether issued by the state society or i 
agent, shall be in the name of the Maryland State Coloniz; 
tion Socipty. 

Sec, 45. Be it enacted and ordained^ That the agent sh; 
have the power at his discretion, to extend the time here 
before prescribed, for a compliance with the conditions n 
c^'Ssary to rest the absolute ownership of a farm, or town !• 
in the person obtaining the same, in case the clearing, fer 
ing or building, shall have been actually commenc 
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